Paste-applying mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1945 Q Q A l@ 2 E Il'. QM. z i 2 ww.. wh@A ||I m Il I l|||4|l|| s Sw .www wmmm 14. w. w; N kN,

WILUAM BROWN BY fu-M' /-M A .I4/.s ATToRNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.5, 1945 INVENTQR m. A mYM. M BM .H M

Patented May 3, 1949 PASTE-APPLYING MECHANISM William A. Brown, Bronx,N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Hartford-Empire Company, Hartford, Conn., acorporation of Dela- Ware Application January 5, 1945, Serial No.571,512

Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for applying paste or other suitableadhesive to sheets or strips or the like, such, for example, as labels,to aid in securing them to articles such as cans, bottles, and similarcontainers or articles.

In applying labels to such articles they are usually caused to rol1along a trackway, either horizontal or vertical, a stack of labels beingpresented to the trackway from beneath it or at one side of it. Thefront end of the foremost label is picked up by adhesive applied to thearticle and as the rolling of the article continues the label is wrappedabout it. In order to secure the rear or lap end of the label to thearticle it is necessary to apply additional adhesive to this end of thelabel.

The adhesive for the lap end pasting of the labels is usually applied bymeans of an endless belt supported on pulleys, one on either side of thetrackway and so arranged as to cause one reach of the belt to sweepacross the width of the foremost or uppermost label of the stack nearthe rear end. A iilm of adhesive is applied to the belt and depositedthereby in a narrow band extending across the label. Difllculty hasheretofore been experienced in preventing a surplus of adhesive fromgathering at the side of the label where the belt rst comes in cont-actwith it and which tends to spread over the side of the stack and causethe labels to adhere to each other. This interferes with proper feedingof the labels one at a time from the stack and also may disiigure thelabels. Furthermore, if such a collection of adhesive is permitted anunsanitary condition Will develop in the operation of the labelingmachine.

The present invention aims to overcome these dilliculties andparticularly to eliminate the possibility of the collection of adhesiveat either side of the foremost label or of the label stack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which willapply the paste in such a way as to avoid any tendency of the pasteapplying mechanism to shift the labels near the top of the stacksidewise in either direction, which movement would result in the labelsbeing improperly applied to the articles.

The natural shape which labels of different kinds assume in a stackvaries. Some labels remain flat while others bulge at the center or curlup at the edges, due to the printing or embossing, so that the paste hasto be applied either to a convex or to a concave surface. Another objectof the invention, therefore, is to provide mechanism which will applypaste to such labels substantially as readily as it will to flatsurfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paste applyingmechanism which is simple in construction, easily adjusted, and whichwill operate with a minimum of attention.

The invention will be described in connection with a mechanism forapplying labels to round articles, such as cans, but only a suil'icientportion of the label applying mechanism will be illustrated to show thegeneral principle of its operation. It will be understood that thedevice of the present invention can be utilized wherever it is desiredto apply a relatively narrow elongated band of adhesive across thesurface of a flat, concave, or convex sheet.

The embodiment of the invention in a can labeling machine is shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thepaste applying mechanism with certain parts shown in section, the entireview being also a section taken transversely of the labeling machine andthrough a stack of labels on the broken line I-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the paste applying mechanism vand the rearportion of the label stack with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal sectionthrough a, part of the labeling machine and the stack of labels, thesection being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of applyingpaste to the uppermost label; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View showing the rear or lap end of a labelwith the paste applied thereto.

Referring noW to the accompanying drawings, and rst to Fig. 3, the cans,one of which is shown in two different positions indicated by numerals Iand 2, advance through the labeling machine from left to right along thetrack sections 3 and 4 between guides 4a (Fig 1), being propelled by therolling action of the lower reach 5 of a continuously moving belt whichis held in frlctional contact with the cans by means of stationaryrollers 6.

Before arriving at position l, each can is passed in contact with aplurality of rotating disks l, or other suitable gumming device. Disks 1are mounted upon a shaft 8, rotate within a body of gum 9 and apply tothe sides of the can a plurality of spots of adhesive arranged in 3spaced relation throughout the length of the can.

The stack of labels I0, shown in longitudinal vertical section in Fig.3, is placed at such distance from the gum applying disks 'I that thecan will make one complete revolution in moving from the disks to thefrontend of'. the label stack. Hence thespots vof adhesive on the canwill pick up the front end of the uppermost label and cause it to adhereto the can. Then the can rolls up the inclined portions II of rails 4,elevating the can above the to'p'f :the 'stack of labels andseparatinethe uppermost, label from the remainder of the stack'.

The labels are of such length asv1 ltb surround the can and permit theends of the" labels to overlap each other.v w1nv yorder to secure therear or lap end of the label in pla-ce pastels applied thereto by meansof a paste belt,;and.f.a s the can continues to advance along rails 4the right-handorrear endV o fI the label. slidesmout from beneath beltvI2 and the belt then contacts thernext label of the stack. ADuring,thismofvfel irl'ent lofuwithdraw'al thekupperwnost label, which may bevindicated by.referencev .y [lvl L 'jslifdes beneath a curlingbar I4which "is -carried by p ivf, oted arms I E 'and arrangedlto j ressyieldingly againstwthetjop of thejstjackof laQe'ls. A A

Vlfulther rolling of the canal'ong the vrfailjsfll :'nmpllfetesthewrap'ping of the label about' 'the can and thecan..thenjrolls'forjashortdistance over a ,resilient mat` gr pfady ltar'ranged beyond the ends. f rails #.arfll by which the. Welehtblf thecanra's fit rollswalofng is l* ,ausedw to; smooth out the label..'remoifinavifrillklsend pressg, tol.- gether the 'overlappingendsioftlie label sojas to leaveit :neatlyI ,applied to the anjw A The'paste. appli/ing. bell ",2 'is .train detalle@ .a driving pulley I1arraigedat tlj'le lefthandvside of the apparatus as viewedin Fig. land y'ar'c'nllnd alsmallerpulleyy Ijn the` right-hand sidevof the eeeeralus-Drvilgfpullev ll .is ffete 001.1- stantly rotating shaft "I 9k and' the"lov/ier` portion of the pulley lllpjs inl-.o body fprpjaste zll`'liontinedin a receptacle 2 IY which flxed bymean's of bracketsk to theVframeof the labeling ina# chine. Pulley Itfan'dother 4Jparts pf thepaste'a'pplying mechanism r`areSlippeifted uperi 'rigid horizontal r-od23 whichse'cured within'aclanfpmg device '2l im the-side ef'pa'tereceptale 2l.

`Belt I2 is p'refer'lblyn'lafde of metalwire wound into a closelybiledheliiigtl'le-intersties of which may vbe varied as to their pasteholdingcapacity by stretching the bell: .to jclifrernt- `errent:s as4set forth IL UfSdPtenl'N. 1,985,293, isvs'uedD- cember 25,1934, to W.D. Kimbail,fass'gor to the 'same V=a"s`s`igneefas thef'presentapplication. However belt "l2-'may be composed of 'other material suchas rubber, leather, etc.

An kadjustable scraping blade 25 is;mol`1nted on a supportVZt'se'cured.to receptacle 2`Ifandis adjustable by means of theiknurlednuts '21 to permit .more or less paste' .to 'be carried'by the belt.Thislblade removes surplus paste which iscarriedup from y.the vbody ofpasteA 2li, leaving only a narrow bead 28 j(Fi`g. v2)c.of paste 'atthecenter, of the outside ofybelt I2. As...the.."belt travels from the leftto .theirighttxin Fig.. 1, f.it may move into contact withen adhesivedeflector. 29; which shifts this 'bead of fpaste. around to thebottonteof. the upperfportion Iza. of the belt asgit leaves-thedrivingpllll'eyml'l. u l

As indicated in Fig .j1, the1 .two sides orgreaches of the belt ,l 2.@rearranged to cross @aC-h ether, thel .upper portion |221; of one reachonfthe lefthand side of the label stack becoming the lower portion IZbon the right-hand side and passing onto the lower side of pulley I8.After rounding pulley I8 it becomes the upper portion I2c of the otherreach on the right-hand side of the stack and then, after crossing thelabel stack again, becomesthe lowerportion I2d. and passes over a guidepulley 3o, and back to driving pulley I'I.

u The two reaches of the belt are arranged to ycross each other andsimultaneously to approach l*the label 'stack Ill from above and to makeconv In order to obtain the full advantage of the invention the tworeaches-of the belt should engage or make contact "with each amer at thecrossing point ne andthis crossing point should be at the center of thelabel, that is, midway between its side edges. The beadvof Ipastecarried ,forward `by vthe belt after leaving scraper blade 2,5' andshifted around to the Abottom Vof 'the leftfhanld upperwportion I Zafofthe belt by deflector Zabecomes distributed over thelowerllalf of. thebeltby the ltime it reaches the crossingpoint 12e. Infact, when ahelical wirebeltis employed "tllejdeflector ,29 'can be omitted,becausefthenatural vibration of the spllg belt caused by the fridtional'engagement of. the .two reaches ofthe Ibelt 'atktlfle cr`ossing point12e produces 'a kslli'ftiljlg of .thebead of paste from'the outerorupperhside of the', belt tothe ,lower .side and la. atterling out ofthis bead f paste intoathinand more uniform film.I Ajs the belt'marnueses .travel towards the right from the c'ro'ssir'g point 12eacross the upper surface of the. right-hand 4half' of theytippelifrl`l`o`s`t label., tfapplies. to; the label .1a. narrow Vstripdf paste, indicated., approki'mately r.by 'r`1`ul1f1eral-- 3,'I in Fig-.5.. Similarly the 'portion 12d `s:'v've`.ep"sl across uiele'fti-nadhalf of ,the uppermost label and applies thl'eretl')I a second na'rrowstrip of paste which is indicated Y approiinliately lby llfuriieral 325mFig.` 5. A'sgtlie .porti-in12dA o'filthe paste belt engages -portion I2c, `th at is, .the other reach of Ythe belt, atftlfle .crossingpoignty'lzaa partgof the pastefcar'riedfby. portion `i201, istransferred tothe other reach and carried Lto the. left bythe lowerleft-handportio-n IZd. 'I hat is to say, a Vpart @themas ,whaha applied.e 'the .arabi ae portion-` |261 ofthe beltis received rdirectly fromtheportion I2a..at the crossing ppint l2e` Even it. -becausefot-meladlustment 0f the scraping blade2i or Otherwise llllnls er ballsi- Paste are..ca1rie,d;.a1one the. pertien im.. such. surplus paste isimmediately transferred atgthe crossing point l2 e to the lportion I-Zdand returned to the paste receptaclefwithout collecting uponordamaging any label. l -'From the above it will-be understood that lonereachor sidev'of belt I2v applies -thegpaste tothe right-hand portionofthe label as viewedin Fig. l, 4while the other reach or side of thebelt applies the paste to the .left-handfside of the label.V Thepaste-is thus applied to the'label .simultaneously by twowipingactionsin `opposite directions from the center of the label to itsxside-.edges. The resultgs thatthere isnoltendency lf-oLthe label to shift`sidewisein-neither.. direction. The upper Dart QfI label. Stack-.f Il!V#mail "extend without ASill@ support for one-,half inch or more abovethe tops 0f the. Stacky guides SMS shown. in 'Fie- .1.

Asthe labelisdrawn from beneath the .paste belt. the paste .slspreadever the Surface. O f .the

label by .the wiping actionof the belt from .the

paste strips 3| and 32 to the rear e'nd of the label asindicated in Fig.5.

'I'he reach of the belt which applies the paste to the right-handportion of the label approaches the label from above and passes over thelefthand edge of the stack lll at a substantial distance above it.Similarly, the reach which applies the paste to the left-hand portion ofthe label also approaches from above the stack and crosses theright-hand edge of the top label well above it. Hence there is noopportunity for paste to be scraped oi the belt at either side edge ofthe label stack rand run down over its sides. Even labels whose edgesare considerably curled by embossing or otherwise will not touch theapi,

proaching sides of the paste belt.`

The adjustment of the paste belt with respect to the label stack iscontrolled principally by the adjustment of pulley I8. It may also becontrolled by adjusting guide pulley 3i! vertically and this pulley maybe mounted on a vertically adjustable bracket (not shown). For thepurpose of adjusting pulley I 8 it is mounted on a supporting bracket 33which has an adjustable clamp 3s by which it is positioned on supportingrod 23. By means of this support pulley I8 may be tilted in such a wayas to cause the two sides of belt I2 to cross at about the center of thelabel stack; also, the belt may be stretched to a greater or less extentto vary the amount of adhesive carried by it (when a helical spring beltis used).

The paste applying mechanism of the present invention applies the pasteto labels of different characteristics without the use of a centerfinger and without danger of smearing the paste on either edge of thelabel stack. It eliminates the need for shoes and other devices toprevent such smearing heretofore employed where the paste was applied tothe label by one side or reach only of the belt, and does away with theannoyance accompanying the adjustment of such devices. 'I'he presentpaste applying mechanism is simple to adjust and requires little serviceattention.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention illustratedand described above exemplifies the nature of the invention but does notlimit it, and that changes may be made without exceeding the scope ofthe invention which extends to such constructions as are included withinthe terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesiveand arranged to travel crosswise of said stack, means for driving saidbelt, means for supplying adhesive thereto, and guides for directingoppositely moving portions of said belt into contact with each other andwith the foremost label of the stack intermediate its edges and causingthe contact of each of said belt portions with the label to continue tothe opposite edges of the label.

2. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesiveand arranged tc travel crosswise of said stack, means for driving saidbelt, means for supplying adhesive thereto, and guides for directingoppositely moving portions of said belt into contact with each other andwith the foremost label of the stack substantially midway between itsside edges and causing the contact lil 6 of each of said belt portionswith the label to continue to the opposite edges of the label.

3. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesiveandarrangedto travel crosswise of said stack, means for driving saidbelt, means for supplying adhesive thereto, and a guide for directingone reach of said belt into contact with the foremost label of the stackintermediate the edges thereof and causing it to sweep along the labelsurface to one of its edges, and a second guide for directing the otherreach of said belt into contact with said first mentionedreach and intocontact with the label at a point contiguous to that at which the dirstreach contacts the label and causing it to sweep along the label surfaceto the opposite edge thereof.

4. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesiveand arranged to travel crosswise of said stack,

means for driving said belt, means for supplying adhesive thereto, and aguide for directing one reach of said belt into contact with theforemost label of the stack at a point midway between the edges thereofand causing it to sweep along the label surface to one of its edges, anda second guide for directing the other reach of said belt into con-tactwith the label midway between its edges and causing it to sweep alongthe label surface.

5. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesiveand arranged to travel crosswise of said stack, means for driving saidbelt, means for supplying adhesive thereto, and means for directingoppositely moving portions of said belt into contact with the lforemostlabel of the stack intermediate its edges comprising, guide means forthe respective reaches of said belt disposed at one side of the labelstack, one outwardly and one inwardly of the outermost label, a pulleydisposed on the opposite side of said stack at about the level of saidlabel, and means for adjustably supporting the same with its axis tiltedwith respect to said label surface, the reaches of the belt extendingover said guide means and around said pulley and crossing each other.

6. In a machine for applying adhesive to the surface of a sheet, meansfor supporting the sheet, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesive,means for driving the same, means for applying adhesive thereto, andguides for directing the two reaches of said belt into contact with eachother and with said sheet intermediate the edges thereof to applyadhesive thereto simultaneously.

7. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesive,means for driving the same, means for supplying adhesive thereto, andmeans for supporting said belt to travel crosswise of said stack withthe two reaches of said belt crossing each other intermediate the sideedges of the foremost label and contacting the same to apply adhesivethereto simultaneously.

8. In a lap end pasting mechanism for labeling machines, means forsupporting a stack of labels, an endless belt adapted to carry adhesive,means for driving the same, means for supplying adhesive thereto, andsupports for said belt directing it to travel crosswise of said stackwith the two

